Router Basics - All You Need to Get Started
video by Jason Bent
article by Ben Marshall
The Dewalt DWP611 is a capable and versatile little palm router - a great router for novice and professionals alike.
Dewalt palm/trim router - dwp611
I remember when I first got into woodworking and decided to pick up a router and bits for a project. I proudly strolled into a local big box store, turned a corner and immediately was overwhelmed at the choices available for router bits - they came in all different shapes and sizes. I looked at all the different profiles and experienced that familiar feeling of “oh I could use that for this and that…” - it seemed like I couldn’t really decide what to get because there were just too many choices. Even today, 5+ years after buying my first router - I STILL have router bits I’ve never used but thought I needed at the time I purchased them.
Then there were the routers - horse power, collet size, plunge bases, trim bases, edge guides, template bases, and on and on! We’ve all been there before and luckily we don’t need to pick up EVERY router bit we see - as most projects can be handled with just 6 router bits and a little palm router.
In this article, I’ll give you my recommendations for which router to get first as a new woodworker or router user, as well as the types of bits you actually need to make the most use of this versatile machine.
The most used router in my shop!
Why start with palm/Trim router first?
Relatively inexpensive
Smaller and lighter - easy to control and handle, often with just one hand
Less power than traditional routers - great at profiling edges and creating grooves/dados/rabbets despite lack of comparative power
Requires only a few bits to achieve great results on projects
Can be affixed with a plunge base - allows for precise plunging and depth cuts
Simple operation - can quickly change bases for a multitude of jobs, super easy adjustments
Variable Speed Control - great for handling different profiles and accommodating for soft and hard woods
I use a router at some point on ALL of my projects - it gets considerable use in my shop
At only $175, the Dewalt DWP611 may be small, but it’s the most widely used router in my shop (even though I own many Festool routers). It is such a simple yet capable little machine, I can’t help but reach for it on most jobs. Compared to most palm/trim routers, this little bugger packs a punch and easily sets all the criteria I listed above. It is a quality made tool that is a favorite amongst nearly every carpenter and woodworker I’ve encountered that uses it. While it may lack the power needed to create a 3/4 dado on hardwood in a single pass, it makes up for it in versatility, weight and ease of use.
Because of how easy and agile this router is, I recommend it for beginners and experienced woodworkers alike. It’s a great way to introduce yourself into the world of routing materials for builds - and can easily be found in most big box stores and on Amazon (linked at start of this paragraph).
Using a plunge base adds surface reference, gives precision for depth cuts and gives more stability during passes.
Changing between the plunge base and standard base can be done in seconds.
6 Router Bit Types Everyone Needs to Own First
6 Types of Bits (two pictured here are roundovers) that you need to handle most projects.
Much like paper is to sanders, bits are to routers. The bit is the actual tool, and the router is what delivers the tool to the material. Different projects require different applications of bits - knowing which one does what (on a basic level) is vital to arming your shop with only what is needed for the majority of applications. Apart from a special profiling bit (a bit that adds a unique edge or surface profile), the bits I mention here are more than enough to meet a vast majority of your projects for a palm router.
A downcut bit pulls the woodchips down and away from the router. This bit leaves a much cleaner cut on the material face the router is resting/passing on and leaves a rougher cut at the end of the bit. This is moreso with plywood or veneered materials - hardwoods can usually handle upcut or downcut the same. If you want a clean cut line with minimal tearout along the edges of the bit, use a downcut.
Upcut Bit
An upcut bit pulls the woodchips up towards the router. These are great for plunging cuts as it pulls woodchips away from the material and back towards the router (similar to a drill bit). The rotation direction pulls wood fibers towards the router, increasing the amount of tearout on plywood and other veneered materials. This bit is better utilized when needing to go all the way through materials as it leaves a cleaner exit than entry.
Spiral Flush Trim Bit
These bits come in different styles - such as bottom/top bearing bits as well as different cutting styles (mainly straight bits). The spiral style creates a cleaner trim because of the shearing action of the blade spiral. These are less prone to burning and marring of your material after passes.
Chamfer Bit
These come in varying degrees, but mainly 45, 30 and 60. I personally use the 45 to create perfect miters for carcass assemblies (see my floating nightstand build). I appreciate the simplicity of getting a degree cut without having to mess with a table saw, bevel guide, etc. If you don’t already own a precise tablesaw, you can’t go wrong with a chamfer bit. These also serve as a great modern profiling bit to add some shadow lines to your designs.
Roundover Bit
The most used bit in my shop is a roundover bit - specifically the 1/8 inch roundover. It turns sharp/crisp edges into consistent and uniformly rounded over edges. Roundover edges are great for easing into transitions between two perpendicular faces or if you want to create a softer profile on table legs and hardtop finished surfaces.
Rabbeting (rebate) Bit
The least used out of those mentioned, however it is still used in my shop. These are great as a different means of joining carcasses for cabinetry.
final thoughts
So there you have it - some basic principles and tools to get you started in the world of routing your projects and materials. New and inexperienced woodworkers don’t need to purchase a bevy of router bits to be considered a ‘woodworker’ - you’re just a collector at that point.
If you follow my advice here, then make sure you spend money on quality bits. It might seem beneficial to go cheap at the start - and that’s fine in the very beginning. However, over time you’ll discover that a dull router bit can wreck havoc on your materials and they don’t last very long. You might get away with softwoods for a while, however once you dip your toe in hardwoods - router bits dull rather quickly (the cheap big box store ones at least).
I use router bit dealer Bits&Bits exclusively as they coat their bits with Astra - a molecular coating that preserves sharp edges and makes them last up to four times longer than traditional bits. I cannot recommend them enough. I’m including some links to my affiliate pages below - use discount code BENTS10 to get a 10% discount on your total order.
Spiral Downcut - https://bitsbits.com/product/425-dnc2...
Spiral Up-cut - https://bitsbits.com/product/srf4-250...
Spiral Flush Trim Bit - https://bitsbits.com/product/rftd2100...
Chamfer Bit - https://bitsbits.com/product/2292/ref...
3/8" Radius Round Over Bit - https://bitsbits.com/product/2003/ref...
1/8" Radius Round Over Bit - https://bitsbits.com/product/2000c/re...
Rabbeting Bit - https://bitsbits.com/product/1900/ref...
